forsook: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareLiterary, formal, archaic. Primarily found in religious, poetic, or historical contexts. Rare in contemporary everyday speech.
Quick answer
What does “forsook” mean?
To abandon, leave behind, or renounce someone or something, typically in a permanent or significant way. It is the simple past tense of 'forsake'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To abandon, leave behind, or renounce someone or something, typically in a permanent or significant way. It is the simple past tense of 'forsake'.
Can imply a betrayal of trust, duty, or principle. Often carries a moral or emotional weight, suggesting a deliberate turning away from something valued, such as ideals, a person, or a way of life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare and literary in both variants.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a profound and often culpable abandonment. In British English, it may be slightly more associated with classical literature and hymns.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Might be encountered marginally more in American religious contexts due to the influence of the King James Bible.
Grammar
How to Use “forsook” in a Sentence
Subject + forsook + Object (person/thing)Subject + forsook + Object + for + NP (e.g., forsook everything for love)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forsook” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He forsook his career in London for a quieter life in the Highlands.
- The knight forsook his oath, bringing dishonour to his family.
American English
- She forsook the security of her hometown and moved to New York to pursue art.
- They forsook their traditional beliefs after the revolution.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or religious studies to describe abandonment of beliefs, territories, or allegiances.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound archaic or deliberately dramatic.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forsook”
- Using 'forsooked' (incorrect; irregular past is 'forsook', past participle is 'forsaken').
- Using it in casual contexts where 'left' is appropriate.
- Confusing it with 'forgot'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'forsook' is considered literary, formal, or archaic. In everyday speech, 'left', 'abandoned', or 'gave up' are used instead.
'Forsook' is more specific and weighty, often implying a moral or emotional betrayal of a person, duty, or ideal. 'Abandoned' is more general and common, covering everything from leaving a place to deserting a person.
The present tense (infinitive) is 'forsake'. The past participle is 'forsaken' (e.g., He has forsaken us).
It can be used for objects, especially when they represent a way of life or set of values (e.g., 'forsook all worldly goods'). For simply leaving a physical object somewhere, 'left' is used.
To abandon, leave behind, or renounce someone or something, typically in a permanent or significant way. It is the simple past tense of 'forsake'.
Forsook is usually literary, formal, archaic. primarily found in religious, poetic, or historical contexts. rare in contemporary everyday speech. in register.
Forsook: in British English it is pronounced /fəˈsʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /fərˈsʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Forsake all hope (literary/Dante)”
- “Forsake not an old friend (proverbial)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'For the sake of something new, he FOR-SOOK the old.' It sounds like 'look' but in the past - he 'sook' (a false past of 'seek') a new path, 'for'getting the old.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABANDONMENT IS A PHYSICAL TURNING AWAY / LOYALTY IS A BOND (TO FORSAKE IS TO SEVER THAT BOND)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'forsook' MOST appropriate?